A few things became manifestly clear to me during Hiatus Kaiyote’s headlining set at Byron Bay’s Sonic Architects’ National Conference last weekend. The first was that the musical evolution of this Australian future-soul group is a magnificent one to experience, best live. Old songs performed from the debut album Tawk Tomahawk sounded fresh – dynamically recomposed to create… Continue reading Hiatus Kaiyote – Sonic Architects of Magnificence
Category: Australia
Australian Music Artists
Mullum Music Festival 2014 – A Town Alive With The Sound of Music
Any place in the world where you find its streets and buildings are alive and buzzing with the sounds of music is a blessed thing, right? Well blessed be any folks in Mullumbimby during four days once a year when this small and otherwise quiet town near coastal Byron Bay is filled with the sounds… Continue reading Mullum Music Festival 2014 – A Town Alive With The Sound of Music
Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence
Melbourne is a rich melting-pot of people and cultures from all over the world. Its vibrant music scene is a reflection of that fact, and so too is the make-up and music of Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence. Band leader, musician, vocalist and dancer Lamine Sonko, rich in his own family history of music,… Continue reading Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence
Wild Marmalade Consistencies
Musicians in the world have certainly taken on as their own, the live and improvised didjeridu-dance sound of its Australian originators Wild Marmalade. But after experiencing Wild Marmalade’s Sunday show at Brunswick Heads, I’m convinced that none of them could really sound like, or sound as good as these highly skilled, Australian artists do when doing… Continue reading Wild Marmalade Consistencies
The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – Credit Where Credit’s Due
At their live show at AWME last year I didn’t give The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra as much credit as they were due. At the time I was yearning for ‘purer’ sounds of Afro-beat, and I guess for the sounds of Fela Kuti himself. That desire of mine wasn’t so fair on The Public Opinion… Continue reading The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – Credit Where Credit’s Due
NGAIIRE Live – Glastonbury Via The Basement
The first time I was blessed to have the live NGAIIRE experience was at AWME 2013 – a showcase of upcoming Australasian artists. Now, just 7 months later, Ngaiire is off to the UK to share her music with crowds at 2014’s sold-out Glastonbury Festival. She deserves all the success she’s had during this past year… Continue reading NGAIIRE Live – Glastonbury Via The Basement
Cave In The Sky Live @ Byron Theatre
Cave In The Sky. The name conjures up beautiful imagery doesn’t it? Of a soft, warm place of sanctuary amongst the clouds. That place of sanctuary is probably where you’ll find yourself at the end of a Cave In The Sky performance. If you’re like me, you won’t want to leave your cave to step… Continue reading Cave In The Sky Live @ Byron Theatre
Byron Bay Bluesfest – Only For The Music
On it’s 25th anniversary, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 was the best one for me yet. It was an unusually comfortable Bluesfest experience under unusually clear, blue Easter skies and sunshine – with the usual phenomenal music artists playing on its 7 stages. Every year that I’ve gone to Byron Bay Bluesfests past, I have moaned… Continue reading Byron Bay Bluesfest – Only For The Music
Erykah Badu + DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown on a Lunar Eclipsed Night in Melbourne
Before breaking into ‘Orange Moon’ on a lunar eclipsed night in Melbourne last week, Erykah Badu counted her blessings for the beginnings of her record making career under a similar moon around 20 years ago. I’d say everyone in the crowd listening to Erykah Badu and her band live at the Palais Theatre, were counting… Continue reading Erykah Badu + DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown on a Lunar Eclipsed Night in Melbourne
Nai Palm with Nai Palm
Nai Palm started her music career standing solo on Melbourne stages with her voice and a guitar. She was singing songs that later became the foundation of magnificent arrangements by her and other members of Hiatus Kaiyote – including this year’s Grammy nominated song Nakamarra (featuring Q-Tip) from their 2012 album Tawk Tomahawk. On Friday… Continue reading Nai Palm with Nai Palm